Christmas pictures

 

A “NEW: Beginning

 

I was offered the position of Engineering and Maintenance Director for the Meadowood Complex. I accepted the position this week. I start Sept 14th. It’s been a very trying three months for me. I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone how bad the economy is right now. I did have the support of my friends and family, and that was very helpful. Now that I will be gainfully employed again, My racing endeavors will begin anew next year. I’ve decided to concentrate on the endurance series. I do need to find another rider to join my team. In the few months I’ll be trying to find someone to help me campaign in the Lightweight Superbike class. I wish my friend Dave Bennett from England could race with me. That would be funny. It would be the Dave and Dave show, LOL.

Until such time…………………………………..

July 25th, 2009 TRACK DAY

I went to Putnam Park this Saturday July 25th. I wanted  to get the race bike dialed in. It didn’t start very well because the bike was only running in 3 cylinders. I was a little frustrated to say the least. I took out the offending plug and switched to another cylinder, but no luck. Dummy me packed the wrong plugs in my spares kit, and I had no extra plugs. STUPID!  I figured I had NO choice but to go thru tech inspection and get ready to try and blow it out on the track.  I did one lap and it “fixed itself” LOL. I think it was shooting flames out the pipe because I heard some loud “booms” when I was easing into the turns, LOL. It started running on all four cylinders and it was “all good”after that.

It was raining for the most part of the morning. The track was really, and I mean REALLY slick. The Dunlop's I had on the bike were not the best tire for the track. I wanted to get a set of Bridgestone's slicks for the event but lack of funds stopped me from doing that. I went out for 2 sessions in the wet, and I  got sideways twice, once in the dreaded “Dead Bear Turn” (thanks Carl)   and in turn 10.  I screwed up my breaking marks and got sideways. I had a little off track excursion (ride thru the grass!) I was coming in to turn 10 way to fast. (note to self)

After lunch the track started to dry out. I got the suspension dialed in after the first dry session. The rest of the afternoon was a BLAST! I really enjoyed myself. My bike was way underpowered for the guys I was running with. Most of the bikes in the group I was in were 1000’s. They blew by me on the straights like I was going backwards. I did OK in the turns, but I was “fresh meat” on the straights. Oh well. The 400 was just a pleasure to ride after I got it  running right. It handles really nice. I’m sure with better tires I would have been able to go much faster. I didn’t want to wad up my bike trying to keep up with the bigger bikes. It was like taking a pea shooter to a gun fight, LOL. I’m sure next year when I start endurance racing it will be a more level playing field. If I get a job soon I can see another track day in my future, and new set of Bridgestone slicks, LOL ;) I was pretty tired after a day on the track. It was fun and I hope to do it again soon. Thanks for coming up to watch me Pug and Little Pug!

Until such time!

 

                           That little girl on the bike was really fast!

 

Friday night July 17,2009

I wanted to take a few pictures all suited up. I got my new back protector on and I have enough room to still move around, LOL. If the weather allows I will ride both tomorrow and Sunday and break the leathers in even more. I have rode about 5 times with them on and they get better with each ride. I’m sure next weekend at the track they will be all broken in by the end of the day. The bike is done and it’s ready to go. I can’t wait to get on the track! Yahoo……………………….

 

 

A “NEW” Beginning July 17, 2009

 

It’s been a rough few months for me. I lost my job in May and I struggled for quite a while trying to figure out who I was, and what I wanted. It’s hard to explain but it was almost a relief when I was  let go by Aerofab. I was so stressed out, that my life was in a downward spiral. I hated coming home every night feeling miserable.  ENOUGH SAID!

Now I’m unemployed and enjoying the summer. I’ve been doing a lot with my daughter Dedra. I enjoy hanging out with her. I’ve learned that friends are very important, and everyone should have lot’s of them. Without my friends and family it would have been much worse to get thru this difficult transition in my life. One thing I have learned MONEY isn’t everything.  We all go thru life trying to make a “buck” and we lose sight of what’s really important, OUR family’s. I will NOT make this mistake again! I’d rather drive a dump truck and be happy, than make big$$$ and be miserable. I’d like to thank my wife Holly (Pugsley) for being there always for me. I’m a very lucky guy to have such a wonderful wife. She is my best friend and she has a heart of gold. I’d also like to thank all my friends and family for helping me get thru this: Dee, Angie, Toni, Carl , Dave B. Dan C, Stosh man,  Wayne S, Glenn B, Suzie, Mom Dad, Jimmy, Johnny, Mark, and lots more. Like the old Indian in Outlaw Josie Wales. I will persevere. LOL

Here we go!!!! GO GO GO!!!! I’m getting the little beast (Blue Lightning) ready for it’s first shake out run next weekend. July 25th I’ll be at Putnam Park getting the bike sorted out. I can’t wait. I wanted to get at least a few track days under my belt before the snow fly’s. I won’t be getting my CCS racing license this season, but I will get it next season! I had a minor set back (no job or money) but I will be back!. I have to change my fork seals this weekend, new 20wt oil. The bike is all set, all safety wired, all my gear is ready and my new back protector should be here today. I will be taking lots of pictures next weekend so I will post later.  I’m looking forward to dropping a knee and breaking in this bike. Until such time……………………

Power BY: Pugsley & Little Pugsley

The “Man” You talking to me?

May 9, 2009 test

The high speed test went GREAT! The bike ran excellent! I still have to figure out how to start it when it’s stone cold. The “white whistler” is a bear to start when it’s cold too.

Holly helped me load the bike up, and my friend Carl cut me a piece of board to use as a ramp. Thanks Quick Carl. I loaded the bike on the trailer and headed over to my mother in-laws house.  I did 4 wide open high speed runs. It ran the “swingers” There is a small flat spot down low, but that’s not going to matter since you pretty much have to flog the 400 engine to keep it on the boil. I had it up to 14k today and it was still pulling good. The real test will be on the track. I’m very pleased with the end result. I think I’m done now screwing around with the motor and tuning, Thank GOD! Thank you God.

I will still be writing in the blog of my racing and track day experiences. I will update it when new news comes my way.

I’d just like to thank everyone again who helped make my dream come true. When you stop dreaming, you stop living. Life is what you make it, so live it while you can. Thank you everyone!

Until such time……………………….

   

May 9, 2009

Well I’m getting ready to go to my mother in laws to do some high speed testing. I’m very happy that the bike started this time for me. For some reason these 400’s don’t like the cold. My “88 “is the same way. I’m looking forward to updating the blog later today with good news. Here are a couple of pictures before I load her up. I’ve been up since 4:00 am. Maybe nap time this afternoon, LOL

 

May 8, 2009

I got to run the bike up the street tonight after I set the carbs up the way Mark suggested. I now have 92.5 mains, needle set on the 2nd clip from the top. It ran really good when it got into the “happy zone” There’s a little flat spot around 3k but I can live with that. I’ll be headed back in the pits when the tack is reading 3k LOL. It really spooled up nice when it got too about 5k. Tomorrow, after I get all the body work put back on, I’m off to the the country drag strip to wind it up. I want to see what this little beast will do when it’s run thru the gears. Being in the neighborhood it’s very hard to put the bike thru it’s paces. I’m not real crazy about pissing off my neighbors either.

I’m very happy it’s running good again. I’ll put it thru it’s test tomorrow. Dedra has named this bike “Blue Lightning” LOL Let’s hope so! I’ll have some pics and a update tomorrow.

May 6, 2009

Happy days are here again! I got the little beast running. I’d like to thank my friends who helped me get thru this very rough few days. Dave B. my new friend from England, Thanks Mate for not letting me get down and give up. You’re words of encouragement went a long way. Thank you.

My other new friend Mark from the 400 club. Thanks Mark for getting me thru this, and answering all my stupid questions. I‘m indebted to you. Thanks a lot, you no doubt are “the man”.  You got my vote for the FZR 400 guru! :)

Both these guy’s were a HUGE help to me. Thanks again guy’s. Poor Carl had to hear me whine at work about my broken bike. No more whining Carl! LOL . Carl is a car guy and races a BMW. Rock on Carl man! Good luck the 17th at Putnam.

I still have a minor issue with the bike at idle, and I’ve asked Mark if he could help me thru it. This is where I screwed it up last time!!! LOL. I’m a heck of a lot more confident now that I have Mark in my corner. LOL. I left everything laying all over the shop after I got the bike running. I feel like the weight of the world is off my chest now. Maybe now I can think of something else other than what to try next to get the bike running. Now if I can just figure out where I parked my car……. LOL. I’m getting that warm fuzzy “pleased” feeling again!!! LOL . I’ll pick up the shop tomorrow and hopefully have the answer for the high idle. It looks like I may make my date with destiny after all !!!! Yahoo..!

Until such time…………………..

May 5, 2009

I’ve calmed down some since the last post. It’s not been a very good couple of day’s for me. Dave in England has been trying to keep my spirits up, and I met a gent named Mark from Florida. He’s also trying to steer me in the right direction. He’s a racer from Florida who runs a 400, along with his son.

I took Dave B’s advice tonight and drained the oil. Sure enough it had a gas smell to it, and it was right at the top of the oil sight glass. It’s supposed to be in the middle, so gas did get into the lower engine cases. That was from my floats sticking and draining gas into the intakes. Bummer. Anyway between getting help from Dave and Mark I’m hoping to get this little beast back on the right track. I haven’t given up yet, but if a nice 600 comes my way…… LOL  I’m going to put the carbs back to the stock setting based on what Mark told me and his experience with racing these bikes. It sure is nice to have blokes (thanks Dave for use of the Brit slag ) to help you out when you’re in a jam. The racing community is a great thing to have and fall back on. There are a lot of good people out there that race.

There’s a good race bike shop up here near Indy that Ruben Frankenfield has interest in. It’s called 35 Motorsports so I have another source if I can’t figure it out. My friend Jim and Matt told me about this place. Here is their web site address: http://www.35motorsports.com/contact.html

I’m going to chill out tonight and take a night off from wrenching on the bike. I think that may be a good thing for my blood pressure. LOL. I’ll be back with more news tomorrow. Hope the engine build is going A-OK Dave. One of us needs some good luck! :) Until such time……………………….

May 3 2009

Total disaster. I tried to get the bike going Sat. morning before I took it to my in-laws to see if I had the top end jetting right. The bike wouldn’t start at all. I tried all day Sat to get it running with no luck at all. I’m so pissed right now I could freaking scream. I was planning on running the bike  Sunday at Putnam to get ready for the school. I just tried again to get it going and NOTHING! It’s getting spark but backfiring like crazy when it fires at all. I’m so frustrated with this piece of shit motor. I’m not real happy with the way this is going. I’m going to put it back to stock settings and see if I can get it to run. I can’t even take the plugs out to dry them because I have to take the whole freaking bike apart to get to them. Oh I’m I mad right now. What a total waste of the weekend. I think I’ll just leave the POS alone for a few days, and try to calm down.  I’m going to start looking for a 600 motor.

April 30, 2009

Today’s test was a washout! It’s raining cats and dogs here. I heard on the news it’s been one of the wettest months ever. It rains a lot out here in Indiana in the spring. So today was a good day to work in the “man cave”

I got the Dzus fasteners on the fairing today. They look good and work like a charm. I got these on a site called  kurveygirl.com  She has very good prices on these fasteners. My last fairing bracket came in and I put it on tonight, so the fairing is secured real good. I shouldn’t have any problems getting thru tech inspection (I hope) The last thing I’m waiting on is the mean eyes. LOL I’m going to put them on the rear tail section. Ye all must fear the “mean eyes” LOL . So that’s about it. When I receive the eyes I’ll take one more picture of the “project”. After I wrap this up, I’ll be changing gears to my racing exploits. Here are a few pics of the Dzus fasteners installed. I’ll be back!

April 29,2009

Let me start off by saying  “I’M DONE”!  With the tuning anyway. I think the little beast is ready for the track now. I have to do some high speed testing tomorrow, but if all goes well Putnam Park here I come! I have one lower fairing bracket coming in, and of course the mean eyes. I’m really pleased. and I don’t get pleased like this very often!

I want to give a shout out to my brother in England, Dave B. Happy birthday Wild Mono Man Dave! I hope you get this in time. I think there’s a 5 hour difference. I hope Claire give’s you the “works” LOL  Thanks for all you’re support Dave and encouragement. It means a lot. It’s really weird how much we both have in common. Someday I’ll get across the pond and see you. Maybe get to ride that rocking bike of yours. Tell you’re boy Ash he better keep her in one piece. LOL  Have a great B-Day.

I’ll do another update tomorrow after the high speed testing, Gosh I wish I had a dyno……………………. Until such time…   

April 28,2009

I think I may have the little beast sorted out. The fuel pump I bought off E-Bay seems to be defective. The pump runs all the time instead of 30 seconds like it’s supposed too. I put the old pump back on, and the engine runs much better. I still have some fine tuning to do on the carbs.

The guy at Factory Pro   http://www.factorypro.com/ told me what to do next. It’s the air fuel mixture screws now. Mid-range and top end feel good. The set up seems to work, but I’m not claiming victory yet. I’m getting close, and I feel pretty good about the way the bike is now running. I got my “Powered by: Pugsley & Little Pugsley” on the body work. Davey B Racing was just a tad to big. Oh well, maybe on next years TZ fairing. Holly and Dedra have been a big support to me. Dee’s been helping me with all the jetting changes :) the kid’s got talent! LOL. Just one more decal for the back. The “mean eyes” LOL!  I’m about ready to wrap this project up. One lower fairing bracket, the mean eyes decal and the last minute carb tuning, and I’m DONE! I may run a few day’s into May, but all in all I’m pretty much on schedule for the end of April. When I’m done with the project, I’ll be switching gears to the track.  It’s been fun, well most of the time anyway, :) Now I can watch my friend Dave over in England’s, Mono build.  Yahoo….

As always a couple of pictures, until such time……..

April 26,2009

Well I almost gave up but………………….something wouldn’t let me. I went back out after I got back from an early morning ride. Sorry about you’re bike Jim, but there’s always  next time. I came back home after about a 70 mile short ride and went back at it again. I looked at the jetting set up sheet from the previous owner, and I saw that he was running the needles at the 2nd from the top position on the needle. I pulled the carbs off and tried that. It worked. Now the engine isn’t being over loaded with gas. I took it up the street real quick, and it ran like a banshee. You talk about loud. Man when that thing spooled up,  it sounded like an F-1 car. These 400 engines scream………… I think I may have it finally solved. I’m going to put the bike on the trailer and bring it over to Holly’s Moms house to do some high speed runs. Out there in the country, no one will call the cops on me. LOL I don’t want to push my luck with my neighbors. LOL

My namesake in England had some bad news. When his engine guy went to install his engine main bearings, he found a crack in the case. Dave has got to get another case and have it machined out. Bummer, hang in there Dave, you’ll get it. Dave ‘s  got a real sweet machine. I wish I could take it for a ride when he’s done. Maybe someday we’ll finally meet, and he’ll let me give it a go! LOL. I’ll be routing for you Dave!

I took a picture of both 400’s today, twins. I think I’m going to take the “white whistler” out for a ride this afternoon. I’m getting my new leathers broken in. Their starting to feel better.  I still have a few more things coming this week ,but now the bike seems (seems) to be running right, I should be ready for the track and RR school in a few weeks. I’m really hoping the CCS gives me the number 154 so Dave and I can still joke abut it.  Until such time…….

 

April 25,2009

I’m real bummed. I got the larger jets today and installed them, but the bike runs far worse than before. I’m going to give  up on the pods for now because from what I hear it is extremely hard to tune the carbs when you’re running pod filters. That’s at least what the guy’s on the 400 club say, and a lot of these guy’s race 400’s so I’ll take their word on this one. It’s more hassle that it’s worth at this point in time. I may try and get a hold of Brian Cook to see if maybe he can help me down the line. So with that said I’m giving up on a few extra ponies and settling for some usable power. Tomorrow I’m going to go back to the 87.5 and put the stock air box on and see what happens. The guy’s in the club say you have to run the air box if you want it to run right. I’m going to give it a go. My 1988 400 runs perfect with the stock set up. I can’t ride the bike the way it’s running. I’d rather have it run like my other bike. I can race that.

I got all three bikes out today for a photo shoot. It was a nice day but I spent a lot of it screwing around with the jetting. I don’t give up easy, but this one has me stumped. Maybe I should have got another RZ, LOL their a lot easier to tune. LOL. I’ll be back tomorrow I hope with better news.

 

April 23,2009

I’m 95% done, with a week left in the month. I temporally put all the body work on until I get all the pieces that were missing delivered. I’ve got parts coming from all over the place. Just small odds and end stuff. I’m pretty much done with all the hard stuff. All I have to do mechanically is get the jetting set correctly. This has been very elusive for me.  I think the guy at Factory Pro got me on the right track. I went very much fatter on the mains. I’m hoping that this will be the end of the tuning nightmares. Dave B. also turned me on to a good card tuning site that reaffirms my theory about being too small on the main jets.

  I got some of the product stickers on and I’m picking up my Davey B. Racing stickers for the main fairing tomorrow. So it’s not quite done yet……………….but I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I hope my namesake in England has an easier time getting everything to fit. Good Luck Dave!  I’m cheering you on brother! Here are some pictures of the fairing on. Next year I plan on using a TZ fairing. Dave has got a nice set up on his machine, so I’m going to copy him. LOL. I’ll be back this weekend with another update and more “project” news. Until such time :)

April 22,2009

I got the rest of the bodywork back today. I rushed home and started to put it on and right away. I ran into problems right off the get go. Brackets missing, broken. bent. It’s quite a mess. It will take me several hours to get this mess figured out. I did get the right side mounted but it’s not quite up to my standards. I want to get it mounted and looking tidy. I hate it when things don’t fit together right. Oh well, I’ll be doing more custom work. I hope I have this done by the weekend. The new jets are coming from California Factory Pro and I hope to have them tomorrow or Saturday. Here’s a picture of where I’m at so far. Until such time..